After capturing the second Dark Beast King, Wei Huan led his army back outside the tomb to continue his conquest. The third tomb had likely failed to sense the impending crisis, or perhaps it simply hadn't expected Wei Huan to move so quickly. Resistance was minimal, and he occupied the surface with ease.
However, as he prepared to delve into the inner world of the third tomb, he realized time was up. The Class Temple would teleport him out in two hours. It seemed the only thing limiting his leveling speed now was the time requirement to slaughter every single enemy on the surface; it was actually faster when the opponent organized an army to meet him head-on.
Wei Huan spent the remaining two hours meditating on the power of death until he was sent back to his body.
Upon returning, he visited the Undead Pasture. He needed to nurture the newcomers and raise his veteran summons to Grade 6—especially the second Dark Beast King, as its progression would grant him another massive spike in combat power.
---
Usually, Wei Huan could rest for about four hours after exiting the Pasture, but today the timing was perfect: he found Mu Zhong asleep in their bed.
Wei Huan walked softly to the bedside, his gaze tracing the long, elegant lines of Mu Zhong's body under the thin quilt with a lingering, almost greedy intensity. He watched until the flutter of Mu Zhong's eyelashes broke his trance, causing him to quickly look away.
Though the "stench" of the undead was more of an energy signature than a physical smell, Wei Huan still headed to the bathroom to scrub himself clean. When he emerged, the curtains were drawn, and Mu Zhong was sitting up, focused on a virtual screen under the soft glow of a bedside lamp.
"Is your hair dry? Want me to blow-dry it for you?" Mu Zhong smiled tenderly.
Wei Huan pressed a knee into the soft mattress, looking at him with a trace of dissatisfaction he didn't quite recognize. "You're up? Busy with work?"
Mu Zhong laughed, pushed the screen aside, and knelt on the bed. He grabbed Wei Huan's collar, looking up at him with a gaze that mixed reverence with a palpable desire to pull him down from his "altar."
Wei Huan wasn't a god; he was a man, and his desire for Mu Zhong was often overwhelming. He didn't try to resist. He gripped Mu Zhong's chin, pulled him close, and pressed down into a deep, relentless kiss.
---
By the time Xia Yu arrived, Wei Huan had already slept and woken up. He was currently on the balcony having a meal with Mu Zhong.
"Are you alright?" Wei Huan asked, staring at Mu Zhong.
"What?" Mu Zhong paused, then flushed slightly as he caught the subtext. "I'm a Grade 5 now; my physical stats are maxed out. I can handle it." Memories of the night before—and Wei Huan's increased stamina at Grade 6—flickered in his mind. "Besides, Shaman Priests control natural energy. My self-healing is very strong."
"I'll... exercise restraint," Wei Huan promised.
"No need," Mu Zhong countered quickly. "I enjoyed myself too. Trust me, I'm fine."
The butler announced Xia Yu's arrival. Mu Zhong had summoned her to finally treat the scars on Wei Huan's face. Though the system masked his appearance to others, Mu Zhong cared deeply about the pain and history those wounds represented.
Xia Yu entered. Tall and imposing with waist-length straight black hair, she looked more like a vibrant red camellia than a delicate healer.
"I am confident I can heal Commander Wei now," she said after saluting. "But it will take at least a week. Because our attributes—Light and Dark—clash, the process will be slow and quite painful for the Commander."
"No problem," Wei Huan said. "Can I enter the Class Temple during the treatment?"
"Yes," Xia Yu nodded. "Just don't meditate. Active training will actually help distract you from the pain."
Before starting, Xia Yu asked about Alfonso. Mu Zhong assured her that Alfonso could move freely in public areas and that he was already considering a role for her in the Mage Tower. Relieved, Xia Yu began the treatment.
---
The week was grueling. To Wei Huan, the treatment felt like his soul was being scorched by holy light. He spent his time in the Class Temple, conquering tomb after tomb to distract himself.
During this period, "Dot Mom" reached her consumption limit, and even "Doggo" and the other Queen-lineage Burrow Beasts filled their "arsenals." Wei Huan refused to start a second Burrow Beast colony; Dot Mom showed extreme territorial hostility to the idea, and Wei Huan wasn't cold-hearted enough to force his oldest, most loyal companion into such distress.
Instead, he poured his energy into Dot Mom. By the time he conquered the seventh tomb, Dot Mom and her entire lineage were saturated with soldiers. She was a hair's breadth away from breaking through to the Pseudo-God grade.
---
Back in the physical world, the treatment was nearing its end. Mu Zhong often stayed in the room, moved by Wei Huan's stoic endurance.
As the scars faded under Xia Yu's hands, Wei Huan's true face was revealed—cold, sharp, and handsome, much as Mu Zhong remembered him from their university days. Back then, Wei Huan had always seemed to stand apart, absorbing the light around him even in a crowded hall.
When Wei Huan finally opened his eyes and met Mu Zhong's gaze, the intensity made Mu Zhong's heart thunder.
"The melted scarring wasn't hard to fix," Xia Yu said tiredly. "The difficulty was the lingering dark energy entwined with your own. Only a high-level healer could separate them without damaging your cultivation."
She smiled, seeing the two staring at each other. "You're fully healed, Commander. Go stretch your legs. I need to go sleep for a day."
Mu Zhong gifted Xia Yu a "Diamond Magic Robe" as a reward. Once she left, he reached out to touch Wei Huan's face. The rough, uneven texture was gone, replaced by smooth, healthy skin.
"The healing here is the best," Mu Zhong whispered, tracing the side of Wei Huan's jaw where his mouth had once been damaged. "Eating won't be such a chore anymore."
Wei Huan caught his hand, the warmth of the new skin making him hyper-aware of Mu Zhong's touch. "Kissing you... won't be a chore anymore either," he murmured before leaning in.
---
Over the next two months, the world underwent a breathtaking transformation. The ranks of the elite swelled as Captain Xue ascended to Grade 6, claiming the title of Martial Emperor; his breakthrough finally gave the vanguard the strength they needed to scout the treacherous Gold-grade ruins. He was soon followed by Hammer, who also reached the Martial Emperor stage, and Yake, who promoted to War Bishop.
While the warriors grew stronger, the vehicle's Sages found their own path to power within the Mage Tower. Under Alfonso's mentorship, they delved into ancient secrets far beyond the standard teachings of the Class Temple, diversifying their skills into specialized roles that bridged the gap between devastating combat magic and vital utility spells.
On the front lines of construction, a massive natural platform on the World Tree finally breached the ocean's surface. Mu Dehao, Mu Zhong's father, immediately began the daunting task of engineering a fortress upon it. It was a delicate balance: he had to build a base capable of repelling assaults from the sky, sea, and land, while ensuring the tree itself remained untouched by the devastation of battle.
Even the vehicle's command structure saw a final, necessary evolution. Faisal Muhammad, the famously affluent captain, officially stepped in as the Vice-Captain of Logistics, bringing his vast experience to bear on the fleet's resources. To round out the leadership, Mu Zhong's cousin, Mu Zirui, was promoted to Vice-Captain of Internal Affairs. With these final appointments, the upper management was complete, creating a foundation of order that could withstand the coming storms.
Finally, as the third month approached, a surge of power erupted from the Undead Pasture.
Dot Mom had evolved.
The Pseudo-God grade Burrow Beast brought a staggering upgrade to her entire swarm. Seeing their new stats, Wei Huan knew the three months of effort were worth it. He was now truly ready for the challenges of the Grade 7 world.